The 10 Best Mascaras for People With Sensitive Eyes

Go it alone, and figuring out the best mascara for sensitive eyes is an exercise in misery. Pick up a random tube, and maybe you'll be fine—or maybe your eyes will let you know ASAP that you've caused them immeasurable pain. Because everyone's sensitivities are different, it's tough to make any generalizations about ingredients to avoid, but there are a few strategies you can try. Hypoallergenic, ophthalmologist-tested mascaras are the way for some people; tubing mascaras are the ticket for others, if mascara flakes in your contacts are the bane of your existence. Beyond not making your eyes feel like they're dying, the best mascaras for sensitive eyes also do the stuff you actually want mascara to do, like thickening, lengthening, and defining your lashes. It's a tall order, but here are 10 gentle mascaras that do the trick.

Maybelline's Full 'N Soft mascara is beloved for the long, natural-looking lashes it leaves behind. The formula is hypoallergenic, and where some formulas can leave lashes brittle and like tiny, jabbing sticks above your eyes, this gives you lashes that are as soft as the name claims.

This mascara checks every box: it's vegan, hypoallergenic, and ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested, which is so many stamps of approval. If you can't get through the day without your eyes suffering, this one, conditioning and nonclumping, brings peace of mind (and volume).

Dealing with the double whammy of sensitive eyes and lashes that refuse to hold a curl is a long way to say "a nightmare." Japanese formulas have it figured out best; this one maintains a curl for hours, without rubbing your eyes the wrong way in the process.

When a mascara invokes fervent odes from sensitive-eyed women on the Internet, we pay attention. Chanel's formula makes good on its nonirritating reputation, thanks to its conditioning and flakeless formula.

The holy grail of tubing mascaras, Blinc is the answer if you've never, ever found a mascara your eyes can stand. The brand says it's been clinically tested to be nonirritating, while the technology means it stays on even if your eyes water at the drop of a hat.

Clinique's staked its name around gentle products that do no harm. This holds up the bargain: it's ophthalmologist- and allergy-tested, mineral oil- and fragrance-free, and safe for contact lens wearers. On top of that, it's really freaking good, giving definition on the first swipe and drama on the second.

Ilia is a star in the Clean at Sephora program, and this mascara sets a high precedent. It feels weightless, thanks to how prominently aloe and rose flower water star in its ingredients, yet it still leaves lashes with a pretty flutter.

Drugstore tubing mascaras are far and few between, which is why this one has a cult following. The white end primes your lashes with a conditioning coat, before the black side builds a ton of length on top of it. No flakes, no irritation, no cry.

Like the above, No7's Stay Perfect relies on tubing technology to get the job done. The difference is, the brand says the tubes are "elastic," so they last up to 24 hours. The brush also sets it apart: It avoids clumps like a boss, while grabbing every lash for a lifted, cat-eye effect.